I was intrigued by two adjacent letters in The Herald (January 5). In the first, Matthew Rae rightly complains about the disgraceful state of Glasgow's roads, pointing out the dangers to cyclists of deep potholes. In the other, A J Clarence suggests that all MPs should be required to get some experience of real life, not by enjoying lucrative directorships but by spending three months of each year working as hospital porters, classroom assistants or shelf-stackers.

It occurs to me that these two suggestions could be usefully combined, by requiring all councillors to travel to the city chambers on their bikes every second week. I guarantee that all the potholes would be properly repaired in no time. They would also experience the thrill of sharing the designated cycle lanes with huge buses and taxis and being given about six inches of clearance by them.

Any councillor caught following the cyclists' highway code of riding on the pavement and ignoring red traffic lights would forfeit a month's salary and expenses.

Iain A D Mann, Glasgow.


Regarding Matthew Rae's moan (Letters, January 5) about the state of Glasgow's roads, and the danger to cyclists. Wouldn't it be great if the ordinary motorist could ride around our cities without paying any road tax? What a wheeze!

If someone could tell me any logical reason why cyclists are immune from paying this tax, when they use the facility on a daily basis but do not contribute one penny towards its upkeep, I'll be most obliged.

Perhaps in this green-conscious age, when more cyclists are taking to the roads, they should be asked to contribute to the common good in relation to vehicle-friendly roads. After all, the potholes are partially caused by lorries, vans, etc, delivering food, clothes and most other necessities of life, not to mention delivering bikes to cyclists. I've yet to see a bike deliver a bike.

Cyclists should stop moaning and start paying their dues.

Tom Gill, Erskine, Renfrewshire.